Concrete pumping apparatus



June 27, 1967 M. E. WHITEMAN, JR

CONCRETE PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 30, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mc rrwb f: b/79mm;

INVEN TOR.

WHANN 8 McMA/V/GAL Af/omeys fbr A b'ean/ June 27, 1967 M. E. WHITEMAN, JR 3,327,634

CONCRETE PUMPING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 30, 1965 1 NM/ N NM J Mw \w 3 Q w n A .1, N \v 4 ehh 1m mm a MM MN W I 4, M L m\ m W V1, uvN 8 M m IL: w Wm, M, N WW 7 0 4 T! N E mv M W 1 M\ NM ww N\ & whw mm 1325: m N 3 .1; U \N 4? June 27, 1967 M. E. WHITEMAN, JR 3,327,634

CONCRETE PUMPING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 30, 1965 w IIW? M f M 1///// M f .m 3%. 3 hm Y O Q. MN Wm NW mw mu wPlH INVENTOR. WHANN 8 McMAN/GAL Af/omoys for June 27, 1967 M. E. WHITEMAN, JR 3,327,534

CONCRETE PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 50, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 a .A hm; M k 3 M I..,. 3 h? L Wm MM 7 1 v2 W M r QM 3 M w \N\\ NZ .m WMW I 1n r $3 fi m:\\ m2 w Mm NN\\,. WIIIIIIIIJJ) W 2 4 i2 United States Patent 3,327,634 CONCRETE PUMPING APPARATUS Marvin E. Whiteman, Jr., Northridge, Calif., assignor to Wlriteman Manufacturing Company, Pacoima, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Aug. 30, 1965, Ser. No. 483,481 16 Claims. (Cl. 10349) The present invention relates generally to pumps and pumping, and is more particularly concerned with pumping apparatus for use in the pumping of concrete and other plastic mixtures having physical characteristics similar thereto.

Heretofore, equipment of the type of the present invention have embodied some type of pumping unit from which a conveyor pipe or conduit could be effectively employed to carry the material such as concrete to different points of use. Such equipment has not in the main been all that could be desired and in view of the types of material being pumped have presented manifold problems and difliculties in order to obtain efiicient operation and overcome undesirable wear and tear on the pumping units and auxiliary devices necessary for the production of best performance.

In its broad concept, the present invention has for one object the provision of a portable concrete pumping unit which embodies an efiiciently operable assemblage of elements which will result in improved and efiicient operating results heretofore unattainable.

A further object of the invention is to provide as a part of the pumping unit an improved supply hopper which is arranged with novel blading for use in mixing the concrete prior to its delivery to the pumping elements, and in which additional blading may be releasably attached for the mixing of slurry, when desired.

Another object resides in the provision of improved gating mechanism for controlling supply of concrete to the pumping elements, as Well as delivery of the concrete from the pumping elements into a distribution channel.

Still another object is to provide in connection with improved gating mechanism of the present invention, a unique valve construction in which the valve member need not have extremely close tolerances, but may be fabricated with more liberal fit so as to avoid operating difiiculties heretofore experienced in the handling of movement of concrete through a flow channel.

Still another object resides in the provision of improved cyclic control in which the pumping and gating elements of the unit are so interconnected that the completion of one operation must be completed before the succeeding operation will be permitted to automatically follow. For example, the shifting of the gate valves will be dependent upon the operation of the pumping elements, and in turn the operation of the pumping elements will be dependent upon completion of change over of the gating valves.

Still another object is to provide improved means for periodically lubricating the moving parts of the pumping and gating mechanisms which are under the control of their respective operations.

It is also a further object to provide in connection with the fluid pressure control system, means for cooling the fluid which is returned to the pressurized fluid source of supply. More efficient operation of the control is thus assured.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein de- 3,327,624? Patented June 27, 1967 tailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of concrete pumping apparatus embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the same;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken through the material supply hopper and mixer unit, taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of FIG. 2 to show details of the gating valve structure;

FIG. 5 is a transverse enlarged section taken substantially on line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a similar section taken substantially on line 66 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view looking into the open top of the hopper, and showing the construction of an attachable auxiliary paddle member;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged elevational view of the attachable paddle, showing details of its construction;

FIG. 9 is an end View of the same; 7

FIG. 10 is a view diagrammatically illustrating the pumping and gating instrumentalities of the present invention, and including a schematic interconnection of the control instrumentalities as used in the control system for the concrete pumping apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, showing an alternative gating valve structure;

FIG. 12 is a front section of the same taken substantially on line 1212 of FIG. 11 to show alternately controlled flow openings;

FIG. 13 is a rear section of the same taken substantially on line 1313 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a transverse section taken substantially on line 1414 of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 15 is a transverse section taken substantially on line 1515 of FIG. 11.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the present invention will be described in detail with respect to its various features and details of construction.

THE APPARATUS IN GENERAL The apparatus of the present invention is primarily concerned with a portable self-contained concrete pumping unit mounted on a wheeled vehicle for transport from one location to another. The unit comprises in general pumping mechanism as indicated generally at 10 which is adapted to receive a concrete mixture from a supply and mixing hopper as generally indicated at 11 for delivery through controlled gating mechanism, as generally indicated at 12, from whence the mixture may be carried through flexible hose or conduits (not shown) to a point of use.

The pumping instrumentalities and gating mechanism are arranged to be power actuated by a fluid under pressure, and are cyclicly interlocked in operation so that delivery of concrete mix from one of the pumping elements through its associated gate valves must be completed before delivery can commence from the next pumping element, and conversely the operation of the gating valves is dependently coupled with the operation of the The pumping mechanism As best shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the pumping mechanism includes a pair of pumping cylinders 14a and 14b which are respectively provided with reciprocable pistons 15a and 15b. The pumping cylinders are mounted in parallel relation and are supported from a suitable frame structure 16 so that common inlet-outlet ends 17a and 17b will be juxtaposed. The pistons are respectively actuated by single acting fluid pressure actuators 18a and 181) having respective connection with fluid supply inlets 19a and 19b.

The pumping pistons 15a and 15b are interconnected through a common large gear 20 which is rotatably supported between the pumping cylinders and has its peripheral teeth operatively engaging the teeth of racks 21a and 2111 respectively. As thus arranged, the operation of the pistons 15a and 15b will be in inverse order. That is to say, when the piston 15a has reached its full discharge position, the piston 15b will have reached the end of its intake stroke.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the fluid pressure actuators of the pumping instrumentalities are provided with cam actuated control valves 22a and 22b for use in the cyclic control as will hereafter be explained more fully. Each of the control valves are arranged to be actuated at the end of the discharge stroke of the pumping piston. For example, the control valve 22b will be operated by a cam surface 23b.

The supply hopper and mixing mechanism Referring further to FIGURES 1 and 2, the material to be pumped is supplied from an elevated hopper 24 which is constructed in the present instance as a substantially rectangular tank with a top charging opening 25. The bottom of the hopper is transversely rounded and provided with a pair of discharge openings 26a and 26b which are in spaced apart relation and lie on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the hopper.

The inlet-outlet end 17a of pumping cylinder 14a is in communication with discharge opening 26a, while the inlet-outlet end 17b of pumping cylinder 14b is in communication with discharge opening 26b.

As best shown in FIGURE 2, a Y-fitting 27 is used to make the interconnection with each pumping cylinder. Since the fitting is the same for both pumping cylinders, it will only be necessary to explain the Y-fitting which is utilized to connect with the pumping cylinder 14b. The Y-fitting has its main leg 28 connected to the inlet-outlet end 17b. Branch leg 29 connects with a discharge connection 30 in the hopper bottom having flow communication with discharge opening 26b. The other branch leg 31 of the Y-fitting is connected with an outlet pipe 32b, while the similar Y-fitting for thedischarge opening 26a has its corresponding branch connected with an outlet pipe 32a.

The outlet pipes 32a and 32b are connected to a Y- fitting 33 which delivers the discharged material from each pumping element into the common outlet 13. As shown in FIGURE 1, the Y-fitting 33 has branch legs 34 and 35 respectively which curvingly converge and are connected with a main discharge branch 36 through reverse turn bends 37 and 38 so that the material from each branch leg will be carried into the main leg through a full flow channel which is unrestricted and smoothly carries the material from each leg to the main leg 36.

Considering further the mixing mechanism of. the hopper, it will be observed that within the hopper there is supported in spaced relation above the discharge openings 26a and 26b an elongate shaft 39 which is rotatable in suitable bearings 40 and 41 at the hopper ends. One end of the shaft is provided with a driven sprocket wheel 42 which is linked with a driving sprocket 43 by means of a sprocket chain 44, the driving sprocket 43 being mounted upon a drive shaft 45 of a hydraulic motor 46.

which may be energized to actuate the shaft 39 in reversed directions of rotation as a part of a mixing operation.

The shaft 39 carries oppositely spiralled blades 47 and 48 which extend from points adjacent the longitudinal center of the shaft to points adjacent the opposite shaft ends, respectively. These blades are supported upon a' plurality of radially extending arms 49*. As thus arranged, the blades will operate to move the material in the bottom of the hopper towards the discharge openings 26a and 26b, when the shaft 39 is rotated in one direction, and move the material in the opposite direction away from the discharge openings, when the shaft is rotated in a reversed direction. It is thus possible to secure a thorough mixing of the material in the hopper prior to delivery to the pumping elements.

In concrete pumping systems of the type in which apparatus such as disclosed in the present application may be utilized, it is necessary to prelubricate the pumping components and flow channels leading to the distribution hose or conduit prior to the actual pumping of cement mix therethrough. For such purpose, a thin mixture of sand, cement and water is used to provide a slurry which is propelled through the pumps and connecting lines prior to the introduction of the concrete mix. The mixing hopper of the present invention is also used for the mixing of slurry. The action of the spiral blading is at such time augmented by the use of releasably connected paddles as generally indicatedat 50 and shown in detail in FIGURES 8 and 9. The paddle structure comprises an elongate main angle frame 51 which is formed with a wide leg 52 and a short rightangled upstanding leg 53'. The main frame is arranged to be releasably attached to the spiral blading and its supporting arms. For such purpose, the main angle frame 51 is provided at one end with a pair of spaced upstanding hook-brackets 5454 which can be hooked over an end arm 49*, for example, of the spiralled blade 47. The

opposite end of the main angle frame is provided with a latching pin 55 which can enter an opening 56 provided in the outermost end of an attaching arm for the spiralled blade 48, as clearly shown in FIGURE 7. The latching pin 55, as best shown in FIGURE 8, is supported on spaced lugs 57 and 58. The latching pin is urged towards a latching position by means of a coil spring 59 which surrounds the pin portion between the lugs, one end of the spring bearing against the lug 58, and the other end bearing against a stop washer 60 which engages a stop pin 61. For convenience of operation, the latching pin may be deflected at one end to form, a right angle portion 55a which serves as an actuating handle for releasing the latch pin.

The releasably atachable main angle frame 51 carries a wiping blade 62 of rubber, Neoprene or other suitable material which is attached to the underside of the wide leg 52 of the main angle frame and retained by means of a clamp plate 63 held by a series of fastening bolts 64. The wiping blade projects outwardly laterally beyond the short leg 53- of the main angle frame and willwipe the curved bottom of the hopper during rotation of the shaft 39. It will be understood that although only one paddle structure has been described, more than one may be attached to the spiral blading to augment the stirring and mixing action when used for slurry.

Gating mechanism The gating mechanism 12 comprises operatively crossconnected gate valves 65a and 66a which are respectively positioned in the branch legs 29 and 31 of the Y-fitting 27 associated with pumping cylinder 14a, and a similar set of gate valves 65b and 66b which are respectively positioned in the corresponding legs of the Y-fitting 27 associated with the pumping cylinder 14b, as shown in FIGURE 2. The, gate valve assemblies are in each case similarly constructed so that it will be necessary to de scribe only one of these assemblies.

Referring to FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, the gate valve 66b is shown as including a longitudinally split housing part formed from two complementary housing sections 67 and 68 which are secured along each side in confronting relation by means of a plurality of securing bolts 69. The confronting surfaces of the housing sections are recessed to define facing cavities which cooperate to form an internal chamber 70 of generally transverse oval configuration as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. One end of the housing as thus formed is connected with a connection sleeve 71 which surrounds the associated pipe forming the flow channel for material, in this case the branch leg 31. This sleeve connection is welded or otherwise secured to the branch leg and has a side opening slot 72 which communicates with the connected end of the chamber 70. The interior of the connection sleeve 71 thus forms a chamber extension which includes the flow path of the branch leg 31.

For controlling flow through the branch leg, there is provided a valve plate member 73 having an integrally formed stem portion 74 which is fabricated into a valve body. The lateral edges of the stem portion are respectively welded or otherwise bonded to side rods 75 and 76 respectively having projecting threaded ends 75a and 76a. At this end, a compression plate 77 is attached to the rods and held in position by attaching nuts 73-78 on the threaded ends of the rods. The valve body thus formed is mounted in the chamber 70 for reciprocable movement and provided with spaced oval sealing rings 80 and 81 of rubber or other suitable material. The sealing rings 80 and 81 are held in separated spaced relation by means of an oval spacer ring 82- of brass or other suitable material. On the opposite side, the sealing ring 81 engages a spacer washer 83. With this arrangement, the sealing compression of the sealing rings 80 and 81 may be adjusted by tightening 0r loosening the nuts 78.

The compression plate 77 also forms the function of connecting the valve body with a power actuator. The compression plate carries a central stem 84 which is connected through a camming-coupling 8-5 with a reciprocable power deliver element 86 of a pressurized fluid actuator 87 of the double acting type having fluid connections 88 and 89. The fluid actuator is mounted on the open end of the valve housing so that by admitting fluid to one end or the other of the actuator, the valve plate 73 may be extended to a valve closed position in the branch leg 31 or moved to a retracted position within the chamber 70. Provision is made for interlocking control, as will hereinafter be explained more fully, by providing a control valve 9% having an actuator member 91 in the line of travel of a camming surface 92 on the camming-coupling 85 in each case. Actuation of the valve 90b is accomplished when the valve plate 73 is moved to fully opened position and upon start of a closing operation of the valve.

The valve arrangement described above is such that it makes it unnecessary to provide close tolerances for the valve plate since it is always in a chamber which is at all times a part of the flow channel which it is controlling. By making the chamber 70, within which the valve body is reciprocably moved, of oval configuration, the valve body and connected valve plate 73 are at all times held and guided so that there will be no twisting movement of the valve plate 73.

Control system Pressurized fluid is utilized for actuating the power devices for moving the pumping pistons and the valves of the gating means. The pressurized fluid in this case is oil which is supplied from a source of supply 93. A suitable internal combustion engine 94 has driving connection with a main fixed volume pump 95 bearing the legend P and a secondary fixed volume pump 96 hearing the legend P The intake sides of these pumps are connected with a suitable tank or storage for the oil as indicated at 97, to which the oil is returned from the power actuating devices for reuse.

The pump 96 feeds into a regulating device 98 which includes a relief valve 99 set to regulate the oil pressure at approximately 1000 p.s.i. A flow controller 99a regulates the output to a feed conduit 100 for the hydraulic motor 46 to approximately eight gallons per minute. A return conduit 101 connects the hydraulic motor outlet for return to the storage tank. A manually operable valve 102 provides control for the hydraulic motor by means of which the motor may be stopped or connected for forward and reverse directions of operation of its driving shaft so as to operate the shaft 39 of the supply and mixing hopper in the desired direction depending upon the mixing operation being performed.

The main pump 95 has its output connected with a distribution conduit 103 for supplying pressurized oil to the power devices. This conduit also feeds an accumulator 104 in which pressurized oil is at a pressure of approximately 350 p.s.i. A return exhaust conduit 105 for the pressurized oil from the power actuating devices connects with a heat exchanger 106 in which the returning oil is cooled prior to its being returned to the tank. In this manner the oil temperature is maintained at a low desired value at all times.

The main control is embodied in a valve stack assembly 107 which includes a pump control section 108, a gate control section 109 and a relief valve section 110.

The relief valve section 110 is utilized for starting and stopping the pumping operation. This section includes a two position hydraulically operated valve 111 which has its fluid actuators respectfully connected on opposite sides of a restricted flow passage 112 which is in the distribution conduit 103. The hydraulic actuators for this valve are so arranged as to provide a differential action which will move the valve to its non-flow position as shown in the schematic, when the hydraulic actuators are energize-d. In this section, a relief valve 113 is connected between the downstream side of restricted flow passage 112 and the return exhaust conduit 105, this relief valve being set to regulate the pressure at approximately 1200 p.s.i. The downstream side of restricted flow passage 112 is further connected to a solenoid actuated vent valve 114 which is normally urged to venting position by means of a tension spring, and in which position the downstream side of restricted flow passage 112 is connected with the return or exhaust flow to tank 97. In the venting position of the valve 114, the right hand actuator of the valve 111 will be deenergized, and as soon as the pumps are started and pressure of oil is obtained in the distribution conduit 103, the valve 111 will be actuated so as to pass fluid and connect the conduit 103 with the exhaust conduit 105. Under these conditions the pressurized oil is merely circulated through the system. When it is desired to start a pumping operation, it is then only necessary to energize the solenoid of valve 114, whereupon this valve operates to non-venting position, and as soon as pressure builds up on the downstream side of restricted flow passage 112, the difierential action of the fluid actuators of valve 111 will operate this valve to its closed or locked position as shown. The pumping operation will now begin.

As shown in full lines, the pump actuator control valve 115 is shown in a position wherein the actuators 18a and 1811 are so connected that the piston 15:: will be moved to the end of its discharge stroke, and the piston 15b will be moved to the end of its intake stroke. At this position of the pumping pistons, the auxiliary control valve 22a will be moved to its position as shown, in which position the gate control valve 116 will be energized and moved to the position shown. This energization is accomplished by connecting the uppermost actuator of this valve to the fluid pressure source through the following circuit: From the actuator through conduit 117, valve 22a, conduit 118, and thence through conduit 119 to the accumulator 104 which is connected to distribution conduit 103 which is pressurized at this time. The lowermost actuator of valve 116 will have to be connected to exhaust, which occur through a circuit as follows: From the actuator through conduit 120, through valve 22b, and thence through con duit 121 and a manual overriding control valve 122 to the tank.

Operation of the gate control valve 116 in the manner stated above will energize a supply conduit 123 and return flow conduit 124 so as to energize the actuators of the gating mechanism for the pump having piston 15a so as to close gate valve 66a and open gate valve 6511 so that upon return stroke of the piston 15a, the pump can take in mixture from the supply and mixing hopper 11. The gating mechanism for the pump having piston 15b will be energized so as to close the gate valve 65b and shut off supply from the mixing hopper, while gate valve 66b is opened so as to permit the discharge of material from the pump by the action of piston 151) on its discharge stroke.

It will be observed,-however, that the next operation of the pumping instrumentalities cannot occur until the gate valve 665 reaches the end of its opening movement. At this time, auxiliary valve 90b associated with the gating mechanism will be operated to the position shown, whereupon the valve 115 will be energized so as to connect the actuator 18b to the fluid pressure line and the actuator 18a to the exhaust line so as to permit piston 15b to be moved in a discharge direction. Change over of the valve 115 for this purpose is accomplished by energizing the upper actuator through a circuit as follows: Conduit 125, conduit 126, through valve 901:, conduit 127 back to the fluid pressurized accumulator 104. The lowermost actuator of valve 115 is connected with exhaust through a circuit as follows: Through conduit 128, auxiliary valve 90a and thence to the tank.

With the actuator 18b thus energized, the pumps will be operated so that piston 15a moves on an intake stroke, while the piston 15b moves on a discharge stroke. At the end of the discharge stroke of piston 15b, the auxiliary switch 22b will be actuated so as to again shift the gating valves to their proper positions. It will be observed that this shift can only take place after the completion of the dischareg stroke of piston 15b, and during which time the intake stroke of 15a is charging the other pump from the hopper. When auxiliary valve 22b is shifted as noted above, the lower actuator of valve 116 will be connected to fluid pressure through a circuit as follows: Conduit 120, through switch 22b, and thence by conduit 119 to the pressurized accumulator 104. During the change over of valve 116, the upper hydraulic actuator will be connected to exhaust through a circuit as follows: By conduit 117, through valve 22a, and thence by conduit 129 and through control valve 122 back to the tank.

With the control elements as thus connected, the pumping elements and gating elements will be alternately cycled until the pumping operation is shut down. During the cycling operation, it will be observed that the pumping elements and gating elements are operatively interlocked through their hydraulic controls in such a way that the gate cannot be changed until the pumping operation is completed for each pump, and vice versa, the pumping elements cannot be reversed until the gating element change has been fully completed.

There are times when it is necessary, as for example, when it is desired to change the cups or seals on the pumping pistons, to override the cyclic operation and efiect an operation to bring the pumping piston to the end of its discharge stroke where it can be reached for making the changes, This is accomplished by providing a manual override control through the operation of the manually operable valve 122. Let it be assumed that the piston 15a is approaching the end of its discharge stroke but has not reached a position where it will actuate the auxiliary valve 22a. If the valve 122 is manually moved upwardly at this time, conduit 129 will be energized from the accumulator and since the valve 22a has not yet been operated by the action of the piston, pressure will be applied through conduit 117 to the uppermost actuator of valve 116. This I will move it from its previous position to the position shown and conduit 123 energized to operate the gate valves to their full line position as shown. With the gate valve 66b in open position, as shown, an energizing control circuit will be established from conduit 127, through valve b, conduit 126, conduit 125 to the upper actuator of valve 115. Valve will now operate to pressurize fluid pressure actuator 18b so as to start moving piston 15]) forwardly. As soon as the piston 15b reaches the end of its discharge stroke, valve 2215 will be actuated to a position which will connect conduit 119 with conduit 120 and thus energize the lower actuator of valve 116. With both upper and lower actuators thus energized, this valve will be locked against further movement and the piston 15b will stop at the end of its discharge stroke, since the gate valves cannot be operated to continue the pumping cycle.

Assuming the same conditions as before, let it now be assumed that the valve 122 is manually operated so as to energize conduit 121.. With the piston 15a approaching the end of its discharge stroke, but before actuating the valve 22a, the valve 116 will be ina position in which it will pressurize conduit 124 and have actuated the gating valves so that at this time the valve 66a will be in its open position with the auxiliary valve 90a supplying fluid pressure to conduit 128. If the conduit 121 is pressurized, actuation of valve 22a at the end of the discharge stroke of piston 15a will apply fluid pressure to the upper actuator of valve 116 through a circuit as follows: From the accumulator 104'through conduit 119, conduit 118, through valve 22a, and thence through conduit 117 to the actuaator. Again, with both actuators energized, the valve 116 will be locked against further movement and prevent changing of the gating mechanism so as to continue cyclic operation of the pumping mechanism. Thus, the piston 15a will remain at the end of its discharge stroke. The control system may then be deactivated with the desired piston at the end of its discharge stroke simply by operating the valve 114 to its stopping position.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of automatic lubricating means for the pumping piston rods and the reciprocable elements of the gate valves.

As viewed in FIG. 10, there is shown a fluid pressure activated oiler device of well known construction. Such devices utilize the oil for the main power devices to actuate a measuring piston which will deliver the oil as a lubricant to the particular parts to be lubricated. The device is responsive to reversals of fluid pressure applied thereto. In the case of the pumping elements, the device is connected through conduits 131 and 132 to the respective supply conduits for the fluid pressure actuators 18a and 18b, Thus, when the flow is reversed in these supply con duits, the direction of flow through the conduits 131 and 132 will correspondingly reverse. Lubricant is supplied to the piston rods through small distributing conduits 133 and 134 in response to the actuation of the' pumping mechanism.

A similar oiler device 135 is used for lubrication in connection with the gating valve mechanisms. In this instance, supply conduits 136 and 137 are energizably controlled through the action of auxiliary valve 90b. Lubrication is carried through small distributing conduits 138 which respectively supply lubricant to the outer open end of each of the gate valve housings, as shown in FIGURE 4. In a similar manner, small distributing conduits 139 supply lubricant to the inner end of the-housing where it will also function to lubricate reciprocable movement of the gate valve body in the housing.

9 Alternative gating mechanism Instead of utilizing cross connected individual gate valves in the branch legs 29 and 31 of each of the Y-fittings 27 as previously described, it is contemplated that an alternate arrangement may be utilized in which the gate valves of each Y-fitting are incorporated into a dual gating mechanism in which a single valve member will be alternately actuated into valving relation with the branch legs of the fitting, The dual gating mechanism and its con struction is disclosed in FIGS. 11 to 15 inclusive, similar elements to those previously described for the gating mechanism being indicated by primed numbers.

The gating mechanisms for the two adjacently positioned Y-fittings are mounted in a unitary assembly, and since each gating mechanism is similarly constructed, it is believed that the construction will be clearly understood from a description of one of these gating mechanisms. As shown in FIG. 11, the branch legs 29' and 31' are sectionalized and provided with confronting connecting flanges 141i and 141 which are fixedly secured to the forward and rear faces of the valve housing for each Y-fitting.

As best shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the housing is of rectangular configuration, being formed by top and bottom rails 142 and 143 which are interconnected by spaced side bars 144 and 145. An internal chamber 70 is thus formed within the housing for the valving mechanism.

In this arrangement, the valve plate member 73' is welded on opposite sides to guide or side rods 75 and 76' which are mounted for reciprocable movement in upper bearings 146146 carried by the top rail 142, and bearings 147147 carried by the bottom rail 143. The uppermost ends of the rods 75' and 76 are connected to a head yoke 148, this yoke being connected with the power delivery element 86 through a coupling 85.

An important consideration in the dual gating mechanism resides in the manner in which the rods 75' and 76', and the valve plate 73 are arranged within the housing so as to eliminate metal to metal contact during the valving operation. The only metal to metal contact of the rods is in the upper and lower bearings 146 and 147. Wear is thus minimized and jamming of fine particles of cement between the valve plate and its associated actuating rods and the housing and other parts therein will be minimized.

Upper and lower complementary filler cartridges 149 and 150 are provided, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. Each of the filler cartridges is similarly constructed and includes associated shell members 151 and 152. The shell member 151 is constructed with a planar wall portion 153 with lateral side walls 154 and 155. As shown in FIG. 12, the wall 153 of the upper filler cartridge is provided with an opening 156 which communicates with the branch leg 29 of the Y-fitting, while the wall 153 of the lower filler cartridge is provided with an opening 157 which is in communication with the branch leg 31' of the Y-fitting The other shell member 152, as shown in FIG. 13 is of generally U-shaped configuration with a bottom portion 158 which extends between the free edges of the side walls 154 and 155, and lateral narrow leg portions 15? and 160 which extend along the associated side wall edges. The cartridges are in confronting relation as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. The confronting edges of the portions 158 are provided with arcuate indentations 161.

The associated shell members 151 and 152 of each filler cartridge serve as retainers for an insert filler, as generally indicated at 162, of rubber, synthetic rubber or other suitable material.

The insert filler 162 comprises a generally U-shaped structure formed by a transversely extending full width bar portion 163 having lateral leg portions 164 and 165 which outwardly surround the associated rod members 76' and 75'. Adjacent the shell member 152, the leg portions have short inwardly extending flanges 166 and 167 while adjacent the wall 153, the leg portions have an interconnecting wall 168 which is in general coextensive with the wall 153. In the case of the upper cartridge, the wall 168 has an opening 156 which is in registration with the opening 156, and in the case of the lower cartridge the wall 168 has an opening 157 which is in registration with the opening 157. The indentation 161 of the cartridge connects with the upper portion of opening 156' in the case of the upper cartridge, and with the lower portion of opening 157 in the case of the lower cartridge by means of an indented portion 169 in the bar portion 163 in each case.

With the cartridge constructions as described above, it will be observed that the bar portions 163 form resilient abutments against which the valve plate 73' will seat when moved into its upper and lower valving positions. Moreover, in the valve closed positions the face of the valve plate will be seated against the adjacent surface of wall 168. The rods 75' and 76 are sealed with respect to the adjacent walls of the shell members and thus prevent lo-dgment of cement particles which might tend to jam the valve. In operation it appears that when cement is squeezed between the rod and adjacent filler block surfaces on a pump stroke and the pump changes to an intake stroke, the elasticity of the filler material acts to displace the fines that have been squeezed in under high pressure. Accordingly, the wear on valving parts is maten'ally reduced and the possibility of jamming the valve greatly minimized.

From the foregoing description it is believed that it will be clearly apparent that the objects and advantages as heretofore enumerated will be accomplished by the disclosed invention.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, hence, I do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for handling and working cement and similar materials, mixing means, comprising:

(a) an elongate hopper having a bottom wall of substantially semicircular transverse configuration connected between upwardly extending straight hopper side walls and ends walls to provide a material charging top opening and at least one bottom discharge opening positioned in the bottom wall between the end walls; and

(b) a rotatable material mixing and moving structure extending longitudinally of the hopper above said discharge opening having blades operable adjacent said bottom wall in one direction of rotation to move the material longitudinally of the bottom wallon each side of the discharge opening in opposite directions.

2. In apparatus for handling and working cement and similar materials, mixing means, comprising:

(a) an elongate hopper having a bottom wall of substantially semicircular transverse configuration connected between upwardly extending straight hopper side walls and end walls to provide a material charging top opening and a bottom discharge opening positioned in the bottom wall between the end walls;

(b) a rotatable shaft supported in said end walls extending longitudinally of the hopper above said discharge opening; and

(c) a pair of blades carried by said shaft, said blades being oppositely spiralled about the shaft axis on opposite sides of said bottom opening and having their outer edges movable in spaced relation to said bottom wall of the hopper, whereby upon rotation of the shaft in one direction material at the hopper bottomwall will be moved in a direction away from the hopper end walls and towards said discharge opening, and vice versa.

3. In apparatus for handling and working cement and similar materials, mixing means, comprising:

(a) an elongated hopper having a bottom wall of sub- .stantially semicircular transverse configuration connected between upwardly extending straight hopper side walls and end walls to provide a material charging top opening and a bottom discharge opening positioned in the bottom wall between the end walls;

(b) a rotatable shaft supported in said end walls extending longitudinally of the hopper above said discharge opening;

() spiralled 'blading carried by said shaft for moving material in opposite directions longitudinally of the bottom wall on each side of the discharge opening; and

(d) an auxiliary elongate paddle blade re-movably attachable for rotation with said shaft, said paddle blade extending longitudinally of the hopper to opposite sides of the discharge opening and in radially spaced relation to said shaft, and operating to augment the action of the spiralled blading when mixing a slurry mixture.

4. Concrete pumping apparatus, comprising:

(a) pumping means including a cylinder having a reciprocable piston therein, said cylinder having a common inlet-outlet end for concrete to be pumped;

(b) valving means for alternately controlling flow of concrete to be pumped from .a source of supply into said inlet-outlet end, and from said inlet-outlet end into a discharge path for distribution, said valving means including a valve plate laterally movable into and out of a path of movement of the material,

a valve body extending'from said plate into a side chamber, 7

a peripheral sealing means carried by and movable with said body, said sealing means having guiding engagement with an inner wall of said chamber; and

(c) power means selectively energizable to move said body axially of said chamber in opposite directions, whereby said valve plate may be positioned in valving and non-valving relation to the path of movement of the material.

5. In apparatus for handling and working cement and similar materials:

(a) a pipe forming a flow channel for the material;

(b) a housing attached to said pipe and extending to one side thereof, said housing defining an elongate chamber in communication at one end with said flow channel;

(c) means including a valve body mounted for reciprocable movement longitudinally within said chamher, said means having guiding and sealed engagement with an inner wall of said chamber;

((1) a valve plate carried by said body and movable therewith between a non-valving retracted position within said chamber and an extended valving position in said flow channel; and

(e) power means selectively energizable to move said body axially of said chamber in opposite directions, whereby said valve plate may be positioned in said valving and non-valving positions to control the movement of mater al in said flow channel.

6. In apparatus for handling and working cement and similar materials.

(a) a pipe forming a flow channel for the material;

(-b) a housing attached to said pipe and extending to one side thereof, said housing including two sections secured together in confronting relation and having facing surfaces recessed to define an elongate chamber of relatively flat transverse configuration in communication at one end with said flow channel;

(0) means including a valve body mounted for reciprocable movement longitudinally within said chamher, said means peripherally conforming generally to the chamber transverse configuration and having guiding and sealed relation with the inner wall of said chamber;

(d) a valve plate carried by said body and movable therewith between a non-valving retracted position within said chamber and an extended valving position in said flow channel; and

(e) power means selectively energizable to move said body axially of said chamber in opposite directions, whereby said valve plate may be positioned in said valving and non-valving positions to control the movement of material in said flow channel.

'7. In apparatus for handling and working cement and similar materials:

(a) a pipe forming a flow channel for the material;

(b) a housing attached to asid pipe and extending to one side thereof, said housing defining an elongate chamber of generally oval transverse configuration in communication at one end with said flow channel;

(c) an elongate valve body mounted for reciprocable movement longitudinally within said chamber;

(d) a sealing ring surrounding said body and having guiding and sealing engagement with the inner wall of said chamber;

(e) a valve plate carried by said body and movable therewith between a non-valving retracted position within said chamber and an extended valving posi-' tion in said flow channel; and

(f) power means selectively energizable to move said body axially of said chamber in opposite directions, whereby said valve plate may be positioned in said valving and non-valving positions to control the movement of material in said flow channel.

8. In apparatus for handling and working cement and similar materials:

(a) a pipe forming a flow channel for the material;

(b) a housing attached to said pipe and extending to one side thereof, said housing defining an elongate chamber in communication at one end with said flow channel;

(c) an elongate valve body mounted for reciprocable movement longitudinally within said chamber;

(d) at least one ring of sealing material surrounding said body and having guiding and sealing engagement with the inner wall of said chamber;

(e) means for adjustably compressing said ring;

(f) a valve plate carried by said body and movable therewith between a non-valving retracted position within said chamber and an extending valving position in said flow channel; and

(g) power means selectively energizable to move said body axially of said chamber in opposite directions, whereby said valve plate may be positioned in said valving and non-valving positions to control the movement of material in said flow channel.

9. In apparatus for handling and working cement and similar materials:

(a) a pipe forming a flow channel for the material;

(b) a housing attached to said pipe and extending to one side thereof, said housing defining an elongate chamber of generally oval transverse configuration in communication at one end with said flow channel and open to atmosphere at its other end;

(c) an elongate valve body mounted for reciprocable movement longitudinally within said chamber;

(d) a pair of spaced sealing rings surrounding said body, said rings having lengthwise configurations conforming generally to the transverse configuration of said chamber and being in guiding and sealing engagement with the inner wall of said chamber;

(e) means operable from the open end of said chamber Y for adjustably compressing said rings;

(f) a valve plate carried by said body and movable therewith between a non-valving retracted position within said chamber and an extended valving position in said flow channel; and

(g) power means selectively energizable to move said body axially of said chamber in opposite directions, whereby said valve plate may be positioned in said valving and non-valving positions to control the movement of material in said flow channel.

10. Concrete pumping apparatus and control, comprising:

(a) -a source of fluid pressure;

(b) pumping means including a pair of pumping cylinder each having a reciprocable piston therein and a common inlet-outlet end, said pistons being mechanically interconnected so as to be operated in inverse order by fluid pressure actuating means connected with said source;

(c) a supply hopper for material to be pumped having a supply connection to the inlet-outlet end of each of said pumping cylinders;

(d) a discharge connection from the inlet-outlet end of each of said pumping cylinders;

(e) fluid pressure actuated gating means operable to connect said pumping cylinders in inverse relation and each of said cylinders alternately to the supply connection and discharge connection;

(f) means for cyclically interdependently controlling the energization of said gating means and said pumping means so that the discharge from one cylinder must be completed before starting the discharge from the other of said cylinders; and

g) overriding manual control for said pumping means for energizing said fluid pressure actuating means so as to move a selected one of said pistons to a completely discharged cylinder position.

11. Concrete pumping apparatus and control, comprising:

(a) a source of fluid pressure;

(b) pumping means including a cylinder having a reciprocable piston therein, said cylinder having a common inlet-outlet end for concrete to be pumped;

(c) control means for selectively energizing said pumping means from said fluid pressure source to move said piston in opposite directions;

(d) gating means for alternately controlling flow of concrete to be pumped from a source of supply into said inlet-outlet end, and from said inlet-outlet end into a discharge path of distribution;

(e) control means for selectively energizing said gating means from said fluid pressure source to change the gating means from one position to another; and

(f) fluid pressure activated lubricating means having one set of oil delivery conduits leading to moving elements of said gating means and periodically energized in response to an operation of the gate control means, and another set of oil delivery conduits leading to moving elements of said pumping means and periodically energized in response to an operation of the pumping means control means.

12. In apparatus for handling and working cement and similar materials:

(a) a pipe forming a flow channel for the material;

(b) a housing attached to said pipe and extending to one side thereof, said housing defining an elongate chamber having a communication passage at one end with said flow channel;

(c) valve actuating means within said chamber including spaced reciprocable rods on opposite sides of said passage;

(d) a valve plate extending between said rods and movable therewith between a non-valving position and a valving position closing said passage;

(e) sealing means in said chamber between said rods and valve plate, and the housing; and

(f) power means selectively energizable to move said 14 rods and valve plate as a unit in opposite directions, whereby said valve plate may be positioned in said valving and non-valving positions to control the movement of material in said flow channel.

13. In apparatus for handling and working cement and similar materials:

(a) a pipe forming a flow channel for the material;

(b) a housing attached to said pipe and extending to one side thereof, said housing defining an elongate chamber in communication at one end with said flow channel;

(c) a sealing liner for said chamber having an opening in registration with said flow channel;

((1) actuating valve means including spaced reciprocable rods on opposite sides of said liner opening within said chamber in sealed engagement with said liner;

(e) a valve plate extending between said rods and movable therewith between a non-valving position and a valving position closing said liner opening; and

(f) power means selectively energizable to move said rods and valve plate as a unit in opposite directions, whereby said valve plate may be positioned in said valving and non-valving positions to control the movement of material in said flow channel.

14. In apparatus for handling and working cement and similar materials:

(a) a pipe forming a flow channel for the material;

(b) a housing attached to said pipe and extending to one side thereof, said housing defining an elongate chamber having a passage at one end forming a part of said flow channel;

(c) valve actuating means within said chamber including spaced reciprocable rods on opposite sides of said passage;

(d) a valve plate extending between said rods and movable therewith between a non-valving position and a valving position with respect to said passage;

(e) a sealing cartridge in said chamber including a sealing member of resilient material having a transverse wall with an opening in registration with said passage for face engagement with the adjacent face of the valve plate in its valving position, side flanges respectively in sealing engagement with said rods, and a transverse bar against which the valve plate seats in said valving position; and

(f) power means selectively energizable to move said rods and valve plate as a unit in opposite directions, whereby said valve plate may be positioned in said valving and non-valving positions to control the movement of material in said flow channel.

15. In apparatus for handling and working cement and similar materials:

(a) a Y-fitting having branch legs forming flow channels for the material;

(b) a housing extending across said branch legs defining an elongate chamber having passages at its ends respectively in communication with said flow channels;

(c) spaced reciprocable rods extending through said chamber on opposite sides of said passages;

(d) a valve plate carried by said rods and being selectively movable from a non-valving position in one of said passages to valving position closing the other of said passages;

(e) replaceable cartridge means sealing said rods and valve plate relative to said housing; and

(f) power means selectively energizable to move said rods and valve plate as a unit in opposite directions, whereby said valve plate may be selectively positioned in said valving band non-valving positions to control the movement of material in said flow channels.

16. As an article of manufacture, a filler cartridge unit for a cement pumping gate valve, comprising:

(a) a pair of confronting retaining shell members, one

of said shell members being rectangular and having a large central opening therein, and the other being substantially U-shaped with narrow side legs;

(b) a filler member of resilient material including a opening in registration with the opening therein, said side flanges respectively at the opposite sides of said 15 Wall portion forming confronting channels; and passages at the ends of said bar portion of the filler respectively axially aligned with the adjacent side channel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Kilby et al. 259-45 Cargill 259-178 Conradson 60-52 Deacon 103-49 X Phelan 259-9 X Sherrod 103-227 Triebel 103-15 3 Voight et al 103-227 X Wilkinson et a1. 103-49 ROBERT M. WALKER, Primary Examiner. 

10. CONCRETE PUMPING APPARATUS AND CONTROL, COMPRISING: (A) A SOURCE OF FLUID PRESSURE; (B) PUMPING MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF PUMPING CYLINDER EACH HAVING A RECIPROCABLE PISTON THEREIN AND A COMMON INLET-OUTLET END, SAID PISTONS BEING MECHANICALLY INTERCONNECTED SO AS TO BE OPERATED IN REVERSE ORDER BY FLUID PRESSURE ACTUATING MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID SOURCE; (C) A SUPPLY HOPPER FOR MATERIAL TO BE PUMPED HAVING A SUPPLY CONNECTION TO THE INLET-OUTLET END OF EACH OF SAID PUMPING CYLINDERS; (D) A DISCHARGE CONNECTION FROM THE INLET-OUTLET END OF EACH OF SAID PUMPING CYLINDERS; (E) FLUID PRESSURE ACTUATED GATING MEANS OPERABLE TO CONNECT SAID PUMPING CYLINDERS IN INVERSE RELATION AND EACH OF SAID CYLINDERS ALTERNATELY TO THE SUPPLY CONNECTION AND DISCHARGE CONNECTION; (F) MEANS FOR CYCLICALLY INTERDEPENDENTLY CONTROLLING THE ENERGIZATION OF SAID GATING MEANS AND SAID PUMPING MEANS SO THAT THE DISCHARGE FROM ONE CYLINDER MUST BE COMPLETED BEFORE STARTING THE DISCHARGE FROM THE OTHER OF SAID CYLINDERS; AND (G) OVERRIDING MANUAL CONTROL FOR SAID PUMPING MEANS FOR ENERGIZING SAID FLUID PRESSURE ACTUATING MEANS SO AS TO MOVE A SELECTED ONE OF SAID PISTONS TO A COMPLETELY DISCHARGEED CYLINDER POSITION. 